Roller skate



1,521,844 A. L. STAPLES ROLLER SKATE Jan. 6. 1925.

.Filed Jan. 20, 1922 -2 sheets-sheet' 1 /HIIWWIHIII BY v . ATTORNEYS Jan, 6. 1925.

A. l.. STAPLES ROLLER SKATE Filed Jan. 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

ARTHUR L. STAPLES,V OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR- TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTCURVA CO'RPORATION`OF CONNECTICUT.

ROLLER SKATE.

Application filed January 20, 1922. Serial No. 530,675.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ARTHUR L. STAPLES, citizen of the United States, residing Iat New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Roller Skates, of which the following is a specification.

The presenty invention relates to roller skates and more particularly to skates of lo the type having a longitudinally extensible foot plate which is reinforced to prevent bending or buckling of the same.

One object of the invention is to provide skate of the general type above indicated having improved and reliable reinforcing means for imparting the requisite rigidity to the foot plate. l

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a roller skate having a heel plate and a toe plate arranged for relative longitudinal adjustment, improved means for preventing relative flatwise and lateral edgewise displacement of said plates.

A still further object of the invention is to produce an extensible roller skate of a simple, durable and commercially practical construction having its parts compactly arranged and so designed that the skate will present an unusually neat and pleasing ap- :afi pearance.

lWith these objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction and in the combinations and arrangements o f parts hereinafter described and claimed.

3s The invention will be best understood from a description of the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Y Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved skate; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views thereof, the sections being taken on the lines 2-2 and respectively, of Fig. 1.

The skate shown in the drawings is pro- ,in vided with an extensible footplate comprising' two sections, namely, a heel plate 5 and a toe plate 6, which are capable of longitudinal sliding adjustment relatively to each other. The heel plate 5 is formed with a 5H forward Vextension 7 while the toc plate 6 isv provided with a rearward extension 8 and said plates are assembled with their extensions in overlapping relation and rigidly but adjustably secured together by means 55 of a fastening device 9. Preferably, `as

shown, the heel plate extension 7 overlies the toe plate extension 8 and the fastening desy vice 9 comprises a bolty 10 extending through the heel and toe plate extensions, 'a nut 11 threaded upon the bolt, and a clamping shoe 12 loosely surrounding the bolt between the nut and the toe plate extension.

The nut 11 serves to bind the extensions together between the head of the bolt andy the clamping shoe 12. A split spring washer vfm 14 is interposed between the nut 11 and through which the bolt extends. By thus forming the slot `15 in the toe platel extension which underlies the heel plate extension, the slot will be entirely covered by the heel plate extension when the foot plate is contracted, thus givingthe effect of a solid foot plate when viewed from above. Normallyv the fastening device A9r serves to securely hold the toe'and heel plates against longitudinal displacement. Y By `loosening the nut 11 of the fastening device, the toe and heel plate maybe readily shifted longitudinally with respect to each other to ladjust the skate to shoes of different sizes. As shown in Fig. 2, the toe plate extension 8 is depressed below the plane of the main portion of the toe plate=to enable the latter to lie in substantially the same plane as the heell plate and the outer end of the slot 15 is closed to limit the extension of the foot plate. For releasably attaching the skate to a shoe, the heel plate 5 is provided with the usual heel band .16

land ankle strap 17 while the toe plate is provided with toe clamps 18 which are adjustable into enga-gement with the edge of the shoe sole by means of an adjusting screw 20 as is customary in skate construction.

Depending from the toe plate are two vertical, spaced apart plates lor flanges 22 and two similar plates or flanges 24 depend in spaced apart vertical relation from the heel plate, the plates 22 and 24 constituting hangers for front and rear truck lbrackets 26, of standard construction, to which are pivoted, in the usual manner, trucks carrying axles 27 upon which the rollers 28 are mounted. l

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To prevent flatwise bending or buckling` of the footplate under the strains to which it is subjected in use, the present invention provides for reinforcing or bracing the same in an improved and novel manner. To this end a pair of stiifening ribs or plates 32 are rigidly secured to the lower side of the toe plate 6. The stiffening ribs are preferably formed as eontinuations of the front hanger plates 22 as shown and extend therewith lengthwise of the toe plate from substantially its' middle portion to the rear extremity of its extension 8. As shown, the stiffening ribs 32 are disposed in parallel -plafiie's perpendicular to the toe plate and adjacent thel lateral edges of the extension 8. Thus the ribs 32, together with the portions'fof thetoe plate disposed between said ribsgform a structure substantially U-shaped in*v Cross section, this structure constituting, infeffect, an inverted U-beam or girder. A second pair of parallel stiiiening ribs or plates 34 are arranged bene-ath the' heel plate 5 and have their upper edges rigidly secured thereto.l Thesel ribs are also preferably formed'as cont'inuations of the rear hanger plates2el;` and extend therewith lengthwise of sa'idplate from its rear edge to the forward endfof its extension 7 and being located adjacentV the lateral edges of said extension. This seoond-pair of stiiiening ribs 3st serves, in conjunction with the intervening portion ofthe heell plate to eonstitute,in' effect, a second inverted U-beam structure or girder member. The above-described girder membersr are constructed and arranged to interslide in telescopio relation, i. e., with their upper-walls and their respective side walls inU sliding contact. Thus it will be seen that theY two pairs of stiffening ribs 32 and 34 by virtue of their overlapping relation serve to prevent relative lateral or edgewise displacement of the toe and heel plates, as well as to impart the required rigidity tosaid plates. lVhen the toe and heel have been secured together by the fastening means 9, the described girder members are rigidly connected anda'ct as a single truss member to brace thefoot plate against vertical pressure.

To positively prevent vertical or relative flatwise displacement of the toe and heel plates', the stiifening ribs 32 are set inwardly a slight distance from the lateral edges of the toe' plate extensions 8 to provide narrow iianges 23 which project outwardly beyond said ribswhile the heel plate stifening ribs 34 are'shaped transversely to form, in con'- junction with the heel plate, channels 29 to receive the flanges 23. To obtain the requisite cross-sectional shape of thc stifening ribs Se, each of said ribs is bent transversely toprovide vertically offset upper and lower portionsadjacent the longitudinal edges of therib'and an intermediate portion perpendicular to said offset portions. The

upper and lower offset portions of the ribs 34 are disposed at right angles to the heel plate and are adapted for sliding engagement with the opposite longitudinal edges of the toe plate extension 8 and the outer faces of the toe plate stiifening ribs 32, respectively. The intermediate portions extend parallel to the heel plate and are adapted for sliding engagement with lower faces of the ilanges 23 of the latter. This construction is such as positively to prevent relative vertical fiatwise as well asv lateral edgewise displacement of the toe andheel plates. Thusr it will be seen that the fastening device 9 is not relied upon to hold the toe and heel. plate extensions against relative 'flatwise displacement inasmuch as this result is effectively accomplished by the interfitting of the toe plate flanges 23 with the channels 29 formed beneath they heel plate.

The'inventio'n has been disclosed herein in an embodiment at present preferred for illustr'ative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims ratherthan by the foregoing description.

Claims: 1

l. ln a roller skate, a toevv plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hanger depending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said frontY and rear hangers respectively, meansY for interconnecting said toe plate and heel plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation betweenk the same and between said front and saidrear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending rearwardly from the toekplate and a girder member extendingvv forwardly from the heel plate, said gi'rdermembers having vertical portions in intersliding engagement, one of said girder members having horizontal tongue portions and the other of said girder members havingr horizontally disposed groove portions for receiving said tongue portions for intersliding flt therewith.

2.y In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hangerdepending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, means for interconnecting said'toe plate and heel plate for adj usting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said front and said rear skate rolls comprising a girdermember extending rearwardly from the toe plate and a girder member extending forwardly from the'heely plate, said girder members having vertical portions in intersliding engagement, one of said girder members having horizontal tongue portions eoextensive therewith and ther other of said girder members' having horizontally disposed groove portions coext'ensive therewith for receiving said tongue portions for intersliding iit therewith. Y

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3. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hanger depending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, means for interconnecting said toe plate and heel plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said front and said rear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending rearwardly from the toe plate and a second girder member extending forwardly from the heel plate, said girder members being substantially U- shaped in cross section and having their open sides facing downwardly, horizontal tongue portions on one of said girder members and horizontal groove portions on the f other of said girder members for receiving said tongue portions for intersliding fit therewith, a hanger on said toe plate having vertical side flanges formed as extensions of the opposed sides of the first girder member, and a hanger on said. heel plate having vertical side flanges formed as extensions of the opposite sides of the second girder member.

4L. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hanger depending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, means for interconnecting said toe plate and heel plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between Vsaid "w front and said rear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending rearwardly. from the toe plate and a second girder member extending Jforwardly from the heel plate, said girder members being substantially U- shaped in cross-section and having their open sides facing downwardly, horizontal tongue portions on the first girder member' and horizontal groove portions on the second girder member and coextensive therewith for receiving said tongue portions for intersliding fit therewith, a hanger on said toe plate having vertical side flanges formed as extensions of the opposed sides of the first girder member, and a hanger on said heel plate having vertical side lianges formed as extensions of the opposite sides of the second girder member.

5. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending` therefrom, /a heel plate having a rear hanger depending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, means for interconnecting said toe plate and heel plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said front and said rear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending forwardly from said heel plate and substantially U-shaped in cross section with its open side facing downwardly, a second girder member extending rearwardly from said toe plate and substantially U-shaped in cross-section with j v tal groove portions on one girder member and horizontal tongue portions upon the other girder member adapted to slide in tted relation with said groove portions to prevent vertical displacement of saidgirder members.

6. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hanger depend-ing therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, means for interconnecting said toe plate and heel' plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said front and said'rear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending forwardly .from said heel plate and substantially U-shaped in cross-section with its open side facing' downwardly, a secondgirder member extending rearwardly from said toe plate and substantially U-shaped in 'cross section with its open side facing downwardly, said girder members having an intersliding fit one upon the other so that their vertical portions prevent lateral displacement thereof, horizontal groove portions on one girder member and coextensive therewith, and horizontal tongue portions upon the otherl girder member and coextensive therewith, adapted to slide in fitted-relation with said groove portions to prevent vertical displacement ofV said girder members.

7. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom,l a heel plate having a rear hanger depending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, inea-ns for interconnecting said toe plate and heel plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said front and said rear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending forwardly from said heel plate and substantially U-shaped in cross-section with its open side facing downwardly, a second girder member extending rearwardly from said toe plate and substantially U-shaped in cross section with its open side facing downwardly, said girder members having anvintersliding fit one upon the other so that their vertical portions prevent lateral displacement thereof, and one of said girder members having a longitudinal slot in its upper side, horizontal groove portions on one girder member, horizontal tongue portions on the other girder member adapted to slide in iitted'relation with said groove portions to prevent vertical dis'- placement of said girder members, a clamping bolt extending through said slot' and through theI upper side of the unslotted-4 gi-rder member, andi a nut on saidV bolt located within the opposed side of the inner gird'er member.

8. In a; rol-ler skate, a` toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, heel plate havinga ifearliaiigei depending therefrom, front and' rear ska-te rolls rmounted inl said front and rearl hangersv respectively, means for interconnecting said toe plate and' heel.I plate foradjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said4 front and said rea-r skate rollsv comprising a girder member extending forwardly- 'from said! heel plate and substantially U-shaped in cross section with its open: sidefacing 255 lateral displacement downwardly, aI second girder meinber extending rearwardly from said toei plate and' substantially U-shaped. in cross-section with its-open side facing downwardly, saidv second girder member-havinga loiig-itudinal slot inA said heel plate andL its respective hanger ane rear skate rolll may be adjustable .lengthwise withl respect to said toe plate, its respective hanger and' front skate roll.

9. In a roiler skate, an extensible foot plate comprising:` a heel plate and a toe plate adjustable longitudinally with respect to eachother, said heel plate having`4 a rear hanger fixed thereto and said toe plate having a front hanger fixed thereto, front and rear skate rolls mounted' in said front and rear hangers respectively, a pairy of vertically arranged stiffening ribs rigidly attached to each of' saidl plates, each pair of" the said-ribs together -with the portion of the foot plate to which it is attached being extended to form a longitndinally arranged inverted U-beain, said beams being adapted to slide'l telescopically one within the other, flanges on one of said U-beams formed by the projection ot its upper wall" beyond its side walls, and channels ei-:tending througl'iout the length of lthe other U-beam 'to receive said flanges to prevent lateral edgewise displacement of" said beams.-

l0. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefron'i, a heel platel having afrear hanger dependingtherefrom, Jfront and rear skate rolls mounted in saidfront and rear hangers respectively, meansfor interconnecting said toe plate and heelplate for adjusting the lengthwise relahorizontal tion between the same relative longitudinal adjustment ofsaid plates andI preventing relative fl'atwisedisplacement thereof and means` on the toe plate cooperating with the lower longitudinal' portions-of said ribs for preventing lateral edgewise-displacement ofy said plates.`

l1. Ina roller skate, a toe plate having ay front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hanger depending-therefroni, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rearv hangers respectively,

means for interconnectingsaid toe plate and heelV platev for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the saine and between saidv front and said rear skate rollscomprising` a forward extension ifi-om said heelplate and rearward extension from said t'oe plate, a pair of stiiliening ribs depending from one of said plates, said ribs having inwardly bent portions adjacent their upper longitudinal portions cooperating with the .latter and with saidplate to provide channels for receiving the-longitudinal edges of the entension of the other plate, thereby permitting relative longitudinal adjustment ot said plates and preventing relative flatwise and lateral edoewisev dis alacementy thereof andv a second pair of stiffenino'- ribs depending from the other plate and adapted to slide betweeny the first mentioned iibs.

l2. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanO'er de Jendine therefrom` a heel plate having rear hangerdepending therefrom, frontend rear skate rollsmounted in saidfront and rear hangers respectively, means for 'interconnecting saidtoe plate and heel' plate for adjusting the lengthwise relaand between said front and said rear skate rolls comprising a forward extension from-said heelplateand rearward extension from saidV toe plate, a pair oi stiffening'ribs depending-frein said heel plate, said ribs having inwardly' bent portions adjacent their-upper longitudinal portions cooperating with the latter and with said plate to provide channels: 'for receiving the longitudinalv edges ot the extension of the toe plate thereby permitting relative longitudinal adjustmentYV of said plates and preventing relative-fiatwise and lateral edgewise displacement thereof, and a.

second pair ci' stiflening'r-ibs depending from the toe plate and adaptedl to slide between tlie rst mentioned ribs 13. In a roller skate, a heel plate, a hanger comprising vertical side plates depending from the heel plate, a rear skate roll mounted in said hanger, a girder member eXtending forwardly from the heel plate and substantially U-shaped in cross section with its open side. facing downwardly, said member being formed by extending said heel plate and the vertical side plates of said hanger, a toe plate, a hanger comprising vertical side plates depending from the toe plate, a front skate roll mounted in said hanger, a second girder member extending rearwardly from the toe plate and substantially U-shaped in cross section with its open side facing downwardly, said second girder member being formed by extending said toe plate and theV vertical side plates of said hanger, said girder members having an intersliding fit one upon the other so that their vertical portions prevent lateral displacement thereof, horizontal groove portions on one girder member and horizontal tongue portions on the other girder member adapted to slide in fitted relation with said groove portions to prevent vertical displacement of said girder members.

14. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hanger depending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, means for interconnecting said toe plate and heel plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said front and said rear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending forwardly from said heel plate and substantially U-shaped in cross section with its open side facing downwardly, a second girder member eX- tending rearwardly from said toe plate and substantially U-shaped in cross-section with its open side facing downwardly, said girder members having an intersliding fit one upon the other so that their vertical portions prevent lateral displacement thereof, coacting portions respectively on said forwardly eX- tending girder member and on said rearwardly extending girder member having an intersliding engagement to prevent vertical displacement of said girder members.

15. In a roller skate, a toe plate having a front hanger depending therefrom, a heel plate having a rear hanger depending therefrom, front and rear skate rolls mounted in said front and rear hangers respectively, means for interconnecting said toe plate and heel plate for adjusting the lengthwise relation between the same and between said front and said rear skate rolls comprising a girder member extending forwardly from said heel plate and substantially U-shaped in cross section with its open side facing downwardly, a` second girder member extending rearwardly from said toe plate andV substantially U-shaped in cross-section with its openside facing downwardly, said girder members having an intersliding fit one upon the other so that their Vertical portions prevent lateral displacement thereof, a portion coextensive with the first named girder member and extending forwardly of the heel plate, and a portion coextensive with the second named girder member and extending rearwardly of the toe plate, said portions having'intersliding 'engagement and coacting to prevent vertical displacement of said girder members.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ARTHUR L. STAPLES. 

